Car door



Feb. 7, 1933. H T ANDERSON 1,896,474

GAR DOOR Filed Jan. 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l a J m a w m mm CAR DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 25, 1930 b o u 00 )0 m o 6 o 5 o O m 0 0 o O O O O ,0 O O INVENTOR Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY '1. ANDERSON, F BUTLER, FENNSYLVAN IA can noon 7 Application filed January 25, 1930. Serial No. 423,405.

This invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to sliding doors therefor. Sliding doors for railway cars as usually constructed are either top hung or bottom hung. If the doors are bottom hung, the

"- often happens that the doors can neither be opened nor closed until the tracks have been repaired.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a track for bottom-hung doors thatshall be mounted in such a manner on the car that trucks or vehicles cannot come into contact with the track when backing up to the car door so that freight or articles of transportation can be loaded on the trucks 2- or vehicles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottom-hung door for railway ears that shall be supported on a track which is located under the floor and between the side margins of the car.

A still further object of the invention is to utilize the underframe of the caras a support for the track of a bottom-hung door.

Bottom-hung doors as heretofore constructed are usually provided with top door guides that cooperate with an upper door rail to prevent outward movementof the top of the door. Such door guides, however, do not "hold the door in place in case the bottom of the door should become derailed.

It is, therefore, anobject of this invention to provide an improved top door guide which,

when cooperating with a top door rail, will hold the door in place-even though the hottom of the door should becomederailed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for mountingsliding doors on railway cars.

Other objects of the invention will, in part,

appear hereinafter and will, in part, be obvious from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a partial view in elevation of the side of acar having a bottom-hung doomthereon; H

a Fig. 2 is a partial view in section taken on line I III of Fig. 1 which illustrates an improved bottom-hung door construction;

Fig. 3 is a partial view in front elevation of a bracket which supports a roller that rides on the track shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1 illustrating a top door rail and a top door guide arranged and construct-155 ed in accordance with the invention, the'door on which said bracket is mounted being indicated in broken lines;

Fig. 5 is a front plan view ofthe top door guide; .7 Fig. 6 is a partial front view in elevation of the side of a car having atop and bottomhung door thereon; and

F ig; 7 is a partial view inseotion'taken on line'VII VII of Fig. 6 illustratingthei'rs construction employed for supporting the door on the top door rail, the top door guides being. removed. 1 y

Through out: the specification and the drawings like reference characters indicateiisg like parts. i

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the reference character l indicates the side of a railway car,

for example, a box orfreight car having a .door 2 which is disposed for sliding movement along the side of the car.- The door 2 illustrated inthe drawings may be made of sheet metal panels 3, 4 and 5 arranged one i above the other and riveted at their overlapping edges 6- and 7.

The bottom of the door maybe of tube- .like formation or construction, which con struction comprises, as shown in Fig. 2, the bottom edge of the panel 3,'a Z-bar 8 and a stiffening Plate 9. j i i,

The vertically-extending leg of the Z-bar may be secured to the bottom edge of the panel 3 by rivets 10 or their equivalents.

The upper edge ofzthe stiifening plate 9may be riveted to the panel 3 as indicated at 11 I and the lower edge thereof may be riveted to the depending flange of the Z-bar as indicated at 12. As shown in Fig. 2, the Z-bar 8 is so mounted that the web thereof is substantially horizontal. As the particular form or construction of the door 2 forms no part of this invention, further detailed description thereof is believed unnecessary because the invention may be applied to sliding 10 doors of any form and construction.

The car 1 illustrated in the drawings is provided with a U shaped channel beam 14 that extends longitudinally of the car and constitutes a part of the car underframe 15 which supports the floor 15 of the car.

The door 2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is mov- --ably mounted on rollers 16 that travel over a flange 17 of a U shaped channel-bar rail 18.

Itwill be noted due to the particular layout of the channels 14 and 18 that they form tending leg portion, the rollers 16 are at all times protected from injury at the front by the bracket 23, and at their rear by the web of the channel 18. But, the most important result of such a structural design lies in the fact that the rollers 16 are disposed a substantial'distance behind the plane of the door "2, and underneath and behind the threshold plate 33 of the floor 15. Then too, this design prevents the lower portion of the door 2 from being pulled out of its proper relation with the track even although it is subjected to vertically and horizontally directed forces in either direction, that is, to the left or right in the case of the horizontal forces, and upward and downward in the case of vertical forces. Even forces directed at an angle of ordinary proportions are successful- -ly resisted and the door cannot be pulled out of itsmounted relationship with respect to the associated frame even if the upper portion has broken loose. As shown the channel-bar rail 18 is secured to the channel beam 1 1 by rivets 19 that extend through flanges 20 and 21 of the beam 14 and the track 18,

respectively. It is to be understood that the rail 18 may be made of shapes other than channels, and that invention is not, therefore, limited to the particular form or shape illustrated. The channels 14 and 18 are i disposed longitudinally of the'floor 15, and

are also disposed in such a manner that one 1 is directly above the other and each has a flange cooperating with, adjacent to, and rigidly secured to the flange of the other to v form a unitary S shaped member.

of the car.

The roller 16 is j ournalled in a bracket 22 carried by a bracket 23. The bracket 23 may be made from a plate, the upper end of which or the flat door mounting portion 25 is secured to the bottom of the door 2 by rivets 24 that extend through the bracket, the bottom edge ofthe panel 3 and the vertical flange of the Z-bar 8.

A sloped or inclined portion 25 adjacent the portion 25 of the bracket 23 extends downwardly and backwardly at an angle between the outer face of the door 2 and the channel beam 1 1, and a vertically straight roller mounting portion 26 to which the roller supporting bracket 22 is secured extends downwardlybelow the floor of the car and substantially parallel to the vertical web of the channel beam 14. A horizontally straight portion 27 parallel to the lower flange 17 of the channel 18 of the bracket 23 projects inwardly towards the center of the car and under the flange 17 of the track 18. The inner end of the portion 27 is bent upwardly to provide a tip portion or flange 28. This flange stands back of-the track 18 and extends upwardly behind and above the end of the track flange 17 to form a guide for the bottom of the door so as to prevent the roller 16 from coming off the track in case the bottom of the door should swing outwardly.

In order that the bracket 23 may be held rigidly in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, a bracing member 29 may be secured to the bottom of the door 2 and the portion 25 of the bracket 23 by one or more rivets 30. I

It is to be noted that the track 18 is mounted underneath the car 1 and offset inwardly from the side of the car along which the door moves. such a position that it will not be struck by trucks or other vehicles that are either driven or backed up to the door opening 31 If the'trucks or vehicles come in contact with the car at all they will bump against-a depending flange 32 of a threshold plate 33 secured to the floor 15 in the bottom of the door opening. Since the track 18 is under thecar and away from the side thereof,

the track cannot be bent, damaged or thrown out of alinement because the threshold plate of the car will act as astop and prevent damage being done to the track.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the car is provided with a-Z- bar beam 35 which forms a part of the superframe structure of'the car. The Z-bar 35 carries a top door rail 36 of Z-bar shape in section which is riveted to the Z-bar 35 by rivets 37. The top of the door 2 is provided with top door guides 38 riveted or otherwise secured to the top edge of the door as indicated at 39/ g The top door guides 38 are illustrated more "particularly in Figs. 4 and 5. As shown,

The track is, therefore, in

these guides may be made from a single flat plate in which the two slots 40 are cut, the

approximately the middle portion thereof. Side portions 41 and 42 adjacent the slots40 are bent inwardly and upwardly to provide fingers which when the door is in place, stand behind a depending flange 4370f the top door rail 36. The portion of the plate between the slots 40 is bent inwardly at the top thereof to provide a flange 44 that extends above and substantially parallel to the horizontal web of the Z-bar rail 36 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Thus, it is seen that the top guide 38 includes bifurcations 42 and 44 which may be spoken of as trifurcations with respect to the portion 41; that is, taking all the flanges into consideration, there are two side trifurcations 41, 42 and a central trifurcation 44.

It is to be noted that the clearance C between the flange 44 and the horizontal web of the Z-bar rail 36 is less than thedistance D between the top of the flanges 41 and 42 and the bottom of the depending flange 43 of the Z-bar rail 36. Since the clearance C is less than the distance D, the door cannot be thrown free of the car in the event that the rollers 16 should become derailed. or disengaged from the track 18. This is so because the flange 44 will rest upon the horizontal web of the Z-bar rail 36 and since the flange 42 stands behind the depending flange 43 of the rail 36 the top of the door cannot fall away from the car in case of derailment of the bottom of the door. The top of the door cannot fall away from the car in case the bottom thereof is derailed because the flange 42 will engage the depending flange 43 of the top door rail; and the door cannot fall down along the side of the car because, as stated above, the flange 44 will come to rest upon the horizontal web of the Z-bar" top door rail 36.

It is to be understood that the door guides 38 are applicable to all types of bottom hung, and also to top and bottom hung doors; the application of the guides 38 is not, therefore, limited to the type of doors shown and the track construction shown, on which the doors are mounted.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, the door 2 is mounted or supported by the top Z-bar rail 36 and by the channel rail 18 at diagonally opposed corners 48 and 49, respectively. The door 2 is, therefore, top and bottom-hung at the rear and forward edges of the door, respectively, the corner 48 being at the rear edge of the door and the corner 49 at the forward edge. The upper corner 48 of the door is supported on the horizontal web of the top door rail 36 by a roller 50 journalled in a bracket 51, the bracket 51 being secured to the top edge of the door as shown.

The corner 49 at the forward edge of the door is mounted on the roller 16 which is carried by bracket 23, a construction shown in Fig. 2 and described hereinbefore. slots extending from the top of the plate to Itis to be noted that the bracket 18 is mounted under the car and secured to the channel beam 14 in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 2. However, the track 18 in Fig. 6 begins at the forward edge of the door opening 31 and extends away from the door opening in the direction of the arrow 53 doors.

'lustrated in Fig. 6 is shown, described and V "claimed in my copending application, Serial -No. 395,513, filed September 27, 1929 for car v The door shown inthis figure differs, however, from the top and bottom-hung door of my copending application, referred to above, in that a roller 55is "provided at the top forward edge corner of the door. The roller 55 is disposed under the horizontal web of the Z-bar top door-rail 36, as shown in 7. The roller 55 is mounted on a bracket 56 which is secured on the inside of the door.

by the reference character 57. The force applied at this corner tends to turn the door about the roller 50. 4 If the roller 55 were'not provided, there would be a possibility of, the

top forward-corner of the door binding on the track and thereby make it diflicultto open the door. The provision of the roller 55 at the top forward corner of the .door'renders opening of the door easy.

The top and bottom hung door 2 of Figs. 6 and 7 may be provided with the top door guide members 38 illustrated in Fig. 4 for the purpose st-ated in connection with the description of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

. I \Vhile various modifications and changes may be madein the inventionv herein disclosed without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof, it is to be'understood' that only such limitations shall be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

tending downwardly in front of andalong the underside of and upwardly in back of :said'track, and a roller on said bracket for supporting the door on the track.

2. In combination with the underframe of a railway car, of a track secured to said un bracket depending from the bottom of the door, a portion of said bracket extending under and upwardly behind and above the level of the track, and a roller for supporting the door on the track.

3. In combination with a car having a top door rail and a bottom door rail, anda door movably mounted on the bottom rail, of a bifurcated top door guide having a flange standing behind said top rail and a flange in front of and immediately above said top rail, the former of said flanges preventing outward swing of the door and the latter being disposed to support the door on the top rail in the event the bottom of the door becomes disengaged from the bottom rail.

4. The combination with the underframe of a railway car, of a channel member disposed longitudinally thereof, and having an upper flange rigidly secured to said underframe between the side margins of the car, a second channel member having an upper flange rigidly secured to the lower flange of said first-mentioned channel member and being disposed longitudinally of said car for providing a track, a door disposed for movement along the side of the car, bracket members rigidly secured tosaid door adjacent corners of the lower edge thereof, said bracket depending from the bottom of said door and having a portion extending downwardly in front of and along the underside of and upwardly and in back of the lower flange of said lower channel, and a roller disposed on said bracket for movably supporting the door on the lower flange of said lower channel member.

5. The combination with the underframe of a railway car, of an upper channel member disposed longitudinally thereof and having an upper flange rigidly secured to said underframe between the side margins of the car, a door disposed for movement along .the side of the car, said upper channel member facing to the rear of said door, a lower channel member disposed longitudinally beneath said upper channel member and having an upper flange rigidly secured to the lower flange of said upper channel member,

said lower channel member facing to the front of said door and having a lower flange suitable for a track, a substantially L-shaped bracket depending from the bottom of said door and having portions extending clownwardly in front of and along the underside of and upwardly and back of the flange track,

.and a roller rotatably mounted on the downward extending portion of said bracket for cooperating with the upper face of said flange track.

6. The combination with the underframe of a railway car, of a substantially S shaped track member disposed longitudinally thereof and being secured to said underframe between the side margins of the car, a door disposed for movement along the side of the car, said track being set back a short distance from the same side of the car, a braoket of a general L shape depending from the bottom of the door and being rigidly secured to the front thereof, a bracing member secured at one end to the bottom edge of said door, said bracket having aninwardly and i downwardly extending portion upon which the other end of said bracing member is mounted, said bracket having a downwardly and inwardly extending member upon which a roller for cooperating with a flange? of said-S-shaped track is rotatably mounted, said bracket having a horizontal portion extending back-wardly behind said track member and having an upwardly tipped portion extending above the level of the lower flange:- of said track member.

7. Incombination with a car having a top door rail and a bottom door rail, and a door movably mounted on the bottom rail, of a trifurcated top door guide mounted on said said central. trifurcation being adapted to support the door on the top rail in the event that the bottom of the door becomes disengaged from the bottom rail, and said side 1.

trifurcations being disposed to prevent outward swing of the door.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of January, 1930. f

HARRY T. ANDERSON. 

